A joint seed-funding programme between Charles University and the University of St Andrews is an excellent means of bringing together top researchers, say Joseph North from the elite Scottish university and Jaromír Soukup from strategic partner Charles University. They outline the project in Forum.

To date more than 140 promising young scientists have already received Primus support, granting them independence and the chance to start new research groups at CU. On Thursday, 80 new “Primus” hopefuls met at the Primus Day conference.

We waste resources and throw away far too much food unnecessarily. The Smart Food educational project, aiming to improve pupils' knowledge about food waste, is being tested at five primary schools. The teaching materials should later be widely available.

When and why do national institutions change? In Talking Economics, Katarína Stehlíková and Sebastian Ottinger look back at European history and discuss its relevance for institutional change in today’s China or Russia.

Empires, nation states, and democracies: Perspectives on the war in Ukraine is what our anchor, Katarína Stehlíková, discussed with special guest, Professor Gérard Roland, in a recent episode of Talking Economics.

The Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer at CU brings together students from different faculties . Interdisciplinary approaches can inspire new solutions. The centre hosted an event capping a new course called Innovation in Humanitarian Aid.

Ivana Schnur graduated from the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University and thought she would focus on pain management in oncology. But despite a few detours and “twists of fate”, she instead co-founded and runs Sensely a few years ago – a company that develops artificial intelligence to make nurses' and doctors' jobs easier.

The field of nursing within the medical profession has grown ever more varied. While in the past, a “one-size-fits-all” approach was sufficient, that is no longer the case. “The shortage of nurses,” says Ivana Dvořáčková of Hradec Králové University Hospital, “would be eased if we relieved them of tasks which could go to less qualified professionals.”

During ceremonies of Charles University, you can’t miss him: he stands out even among esteemed guests, always the first to walk into the Great Hall in dignified historical dress, sceptre in hand. He is the university’s bedel or beadle. At the Carolinum that role is performed by Josef Šebek.

This week, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University celebrated 70 years since its foundation. “From today's perspective, the faculty seems young. However, the tradition of mathematics, physics and astronomy at Charles University has been going on for almost 700 hundred years,” Rector Milena Králíčková said.